As potential pairings in the metal world would go, a collaboration between Alice In Chains’ Jerry Cantrell and Metallica’s James Hetfield sounds very tantalizing. Both icons of heavy music, the two have shared stages and jam sessions, but a proper songwriting partnership has yet to materialize. It’s a musical “what if” that’s been floated around before, but Cantrell recently confirmed that it’s not entirely outside the realm of possibility.
In the latest issue of Metal Hammer, Cantrell addressed a fan question about whether he would ever consider making an album with Hetfield. “James and I have talked about it, kind of. We never had a formal conversation, but I’ve jammed with him at Kirk’s place. I’ve even spent a night or two at his house, and we’ve ended up with guitars in the kitchen and on the porch,” Cantrell said. “It’s something I’d be really curious about, even to just write a song with him.”
Still, Cantrell is realistic about Hetfield’s commitments. “As for whether it’d turn into something more than that, he’s got a pretty demanding day job. Ha ha! So I’d understand if it never comes to be.”
While a joint project hasn’t happened, the two have shared the stage before. Back in 2006, Hetfield joined Alice In Chains on stage twice to perform “Would?” — once at the Rock am Ring festival in Germany and again at The Warfield in San Francisco. It was a moment that showcased the mutual respect between the two musicians and their respective bands.
Cantrell has never been shy about his admiration for Hetfield’s abilities as a frontman. Back in 2020, he told Metal Hammer, “What makes James such a great frontman is his physical presence. Nobody else commands the same kind of respect and attention without it being self-seeking or egocentric. He’s all about the music; all about the fun and the celebration and the connection with the fans. And that, to me, is really inspiring.”
He went on to praise Hetfield’s longevity in a notoriously difficult industry. “Especially because he’s done this for so long, and he’s been at the top of his game for so long and he continues to search for a deeper meaning. He took an underground thing and took it worldwide.”
Cantrell made it clear just how much of an influence Metallica has had on him personally. “Metallica is a huge thing for me and for any hard rock or metal band,” he said. “Will he go down in history as a rock icon? He already has—he’s the godfather, man.”
Hetfield, for his part, has expressed similar respect for Alice In Chains. While he never had a close relationship with the band’s late frontman, Layne Staley, Hetfield did see the band perform several times and held their music in high regard.
In a 2019 interview with Revolver, Hetfield shared one memorable experience trying to catch Alice In Chains during their 1991 tour with Slayer. “I wasn’t really close with Layne, but I remember going to see Alice In Chains many times. I remember when we were down in L.A., I left the studio early to see them play on Clash of the Titans with Slayer. I was driving like a madman in this rented van, going on the median and scaring the shit out of my friend—‘We gotta get there!’ And we got there, and they’d just got off. I was like, ‘Aw, man!’ [Laughs].”
Hetfield also spoke about the unique place Alice In Chains holds within the Seattle scene, noting how their music stood apart from the grunge sound that dominated the early ’90s. “I hung with them a little bit, always just loved their music, and I’d say that Jerry and I share some life experiences, like getting a second chance at life and realizing how cool things can be. So we’ve got kind of a kinship that way. And seeing them play—I just love hearing those songs. Those songs are awesome and should be heard, you know? They were so unique, so ahead of their time. And out of all the Seattle stuff, that stuff is the most timeless.”
However, Hetfield also acknowledged the tragic side of Alice In Chains’ story, particularly Staley’s struggles with addiction. “Unfortunately, Layne just loved the junk too much, man, and that was that. I just read in his lyrics his obsessiveness about it. And he knew where he was goin’! It’s like, in the school of driving, look where you want to go—and that’s what he was doing, it seems like.”
For now, we will have to keep wondering what a Cantrell–Hetfield collaboration would sound like. Cantrell says he’s still curious. “It’s something I’d be really curious about,” he admitted. And judging by the mutual respect between the two, it seems like something Hetfield wouldn’t rule out either. Maybe someday.